Student Councils

Student Councils are now active in practically every school in Ireland. Student Xpress looks at a case study of a Student Council run in the Presentation Secondary School in Ballyphehane, Co. Cork. A number of the problems they have encountered and initiatives undertaken are explored. Further in the article Luke Monahan talks in general about how a school would set up their own council.

Case Study: Presentation SS, Ballyphehane, Cork
How to Set up your own Student Council

Case Study: Ballyphehane's Student Council

The Student Council of Presentation Secondary School is elected by the following system:
Each class elects both a Prefect and a Vice-Prefect. The junior classes are usually advised who to vote for whereas the senior classes are free to vote for whoever they feel has the characteristics required for the job.
All Prefects and Vice-Prefects are obliged to attend full student council meetings which are held every six weeks or so.
All senior prefects are part of the senior executive of the Student Council. Senior executive meetings are held every four weeks.

An Independent Organisation

The Student Council is financially independent. The council lodges their funds with the nearby Credit Union.
The Senior Executive of the Student Council has responsibilities and each member is appointed a position at the start of the year. The positions are as follows:
Head Girl: Eleanor Morrissey
Secretary: Michelle Martin
Treasurer: Lynda O' Connell
PR0: Pamela Casey
Blue Flag Co-ordinator: Karen McCleverty
Vending Machine Deputy: Tracy Henchin

The Principal, Sr. Sheila Kelleher, has the final say over all decisions made by the Student Council. She usually respects the decisions if good reasons and arguments are presented. Mrs. Aileen O'Gorman is our Teacher co-ordinator. She helps in bringing the Student Council back to reality. She gives us a good idea which projects are attainable and which are not. For example, we brought in a vending machine, but, after research we found the idea of school trousers was not acceptable to management.

Student Council

The Student Councils' most recent accomplishment has been the collection of Tesco Tokens to get a printer for the students' computer in the library. The printer will be available to the students at all times. When asked about the benefits the students find with the printer one student said, "I now find it easier and quicker to complete projects ........its a great asset to the school".

Last year the Student Council decided to get a drinks vending machine for the students. This was resisted, at first by the staff but has turned out to be of benefit to everyone. It solved the problem of students going against the rules to go to the shop to buy a drink. The profits from the machine help fund the council.

Also last year the Person Of The Year Award started. This award is for the best person and is not an academic award. Last years winner was described as "Friendly and Bubbly". That was Melanie Ginnifer of Transition Year. We have already started organising this years' award. Each class has nominated between one and five students.

A meeting was held recently to shortlist the 56 nominees to 18 and this list will be further shortlisted until a Person of The Year is chosen. The Person of The Year will be announced at an awards night run by the school in conjunction with the parents. Micheal Martin, the Minister for Education and Science, will be presenting the awards at the end of May.

Working with the Staff

The council and the staff work together on many issues involving helping the students abide by the school rules. School management are reviewing the Code of Conduct at the moment and the draft copy will be submitted to the Student Council for their comments. This way it is ensured that the rules are acceptable to both students and staff.

The Council's Problems

The idea of school trousers was unattainable as it was rejected by many of the students as well as the Board of Management. Also rejected was the idea of chocolate and crisp vending machines. This was due partly to lack of space in the school as well as the possibility of increasing the litter problem. Perhaps next year!!!

The People's Council

The council also runs fun competitions and projects in order to motivate and encourage the students. This year we organised a funny photo competition. All teachers and senior prefects donated photographs. The aim of the competition was for the students to identify the people who were babies in the pictures. All proceeds went to the St. Vincent De Paul Charity.
The Council sends cards of encouragement, praise and sympathy when appropriate to the students and their families.

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How to Set up your own Student Council

The Irish Association of Pastoral Care in Education (IAPCE for short) began its work in 1996 - its motto is 'Caring for the Person in Education'.

It has been our goal to resource each partner in the school community. Most recently we launched a book entitled: Moving Forward with Students. It is a ground breaking collection in the Irish context of practical strategies and rationales for real student involvement. There have been numerous requests to the IAPCE office for ideas and strategies to help involve students more and more in the life of the school at some form of representative level. It is very encouraging to know that so many schools have wonderful structures in place for students to take up their role in contributing to the school community.

Collaboration is for all...

As with any other partner in the school community energy needs to be given to exploring the appropriate development of the student role. Initial failures or lack of response is no justifiable reason to permanently opt out of this necessary collaboration. Rather, lessons need to be learned during the process of engaging with the resource of the student body. Great strides have been made to recognise the crucial role of staff in the development of the school, similar efforts are being made in the area of parent collaboration. Therefore why not students?

Below are some thoughts on developing student representation that may be of assistance in your situation:

Prepare the ground well - hold exploratory discussions with the staff, the parent council and the students before setting up structures.
Find out what other schools are doing - there is a fund of experience out there - discover and adapt.
Put together a staff committee with the option of co-opting students. This committee's role is to draw up a draft set of proposals.
Draft a two year plan. This is to give yourself time. Have limited expectations in the initial stages but build in evaluation so that development can occur.

A two-tier representative body is one way to go - the first being a large grouping representing each class, either one or two from each class. The second - executive tier - is a smaller group who have responsibility for action. This could be up to ten students.

Be clear on the level and format of staff involvement. This should include two interested teachers working closely with the students to support, resource and advise.

Regular communication with the full staff

A newsletter for the student body - a weekly A4 page to inform students of events occurring in the school.
Care should be taken in deciding the process for appointing students to representative roles. Some balance is needed between staff and student concerns. One procedure is to appoint a selection committee of three staff - including the principal - and two students from the out-going body. This group could consult the staff and students in the process of appointing a representative council.
Some form of training for students in this role is advisable and of great benefit to those partaking in any such preparation.
The principal needs to meet the representative group at regular intervals during the year. This gives a status to the group and helps the students and principal review the progress of the groups work.

These ideas are fleshed out in much greater detail in the recent book, Moving Forward with Students. It contains many case-studies from a range of school types. IAPCE also has a number of other publications to support the school community:
The Class Tutor: The Why...The What...The How
The Year Head: A Key Link in the School Community
Discipline and Stress: Beyond Control
Suicide, Bereavement and Loss: Perspectives and Responses.

These are only available through the IAPCE office, Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9.
Tel: (01) 833 5111
Fax: (01) 833 5290
Email: Luke Monahan

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